High-water signaling apparatus



p l 1930- J. .1. M c'ANDLEs s HIGH WATER SIGNALING APPARATUS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 50, 1929 JJManJlsa April 15, 1930. .J. J.MCANDLESS v I ,7

Q HIGH WATER SIGNALING APPARATUS v I I Filed Nnv. 30, 1929 I STYEP 2Sheets-Sheet 2 J, J fiandlaas Patented Apr. 15, 1930 JOSHUA J.MCCANDLESS, F HENNESSEY, OKLAHOMA HIGH-WATER SIGNALING APPARATUSApplication filed November 30, 1929. Serial No. 410,846.

This invention relates to signals, and more particularly to a dangersignal for railroad and other bridges. r

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a signal of thecharacter stated which, when a body of water spanned by a bridge riseshigh enough to render the bridge unsafe, shall be adatped to operatesigns located at distances from the ends of the bridge and adapted whenoperated to indicate that thebridge is unsafe.

The invention has for a further object to provide a signal of thecharacter stated which shall be simple, durable and highly efficient,which shall be adaptedto be manufactured and installed at acomparatively low cost, and which shall be adapted to be maintained in ahigh state of efficiency at a comparatively low cost.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the nature of which willappear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing,wherein Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly invertical section illustrating the signal applied to a railroad bridge;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the railroad bridge and signal Figure 3is a View in front elevation of on of the warning signs'of the signal,the sign being shown in raised or operative position; Figure 4 is a viewpartly in side elevation and partly in vertical section illustrating oneof the warning signs in lowered or inoperative position, the means forreleasably holding the sign in this position, and the means for raisingthe sign when released into operative position, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated bythe line 55 of Figure 2.

j Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 designates the piers and 2 thelongitudinal beams of a railroad bridge. 3 designates the ties and 4 therails of the track of the railroad.

The signal comprises signs 5 which are ear- 0 ranged centrally of thetrack and at a considerable distance from the ends of the bridge.

The signals 5 each consist of a post 6 and a plate 7 which latter bearsthe Word Stop. The posts 6 are pivoted adjacent certain of their ends,as at 8, to brackets 9, and the plates 7 are secured to the other endsof the posts. The brackets 9 are each secured to a tie 3 and are securedto those vertical sides of the ties most remote from the bridge.

ties and permit the signs 5 to normally occupy a horizontal orinoperative position above the ties, and permit the signs to be movedfrom this position into a vertical or operative position. Arcuate rods13 are slidably mounted in arcuate guides 14c carried by the brackets 9between the bracket members 11, and are pivotally connected, as at 15,to theposts 6. Coil springs 16 are arranged upon the rods 13 between theposts 6 and guides 14, and they constantly tend to move the signs 5 fromtheir inoperative to their operative position.

The signs 5 are releasably held in their inop' erative position by latchbolts 17 which are slidably mounted in guides 18 secured to the uppersides of the ties to which the brackets 9 are secured. The bolts 17engage lugs 19 formed on the pivoted ends of the posts 6, and they areheld in engagement with the lugs by coil springs 20. i The coil springs20 are arranged upon the bolts 17 and bear against the guides 18 andpins 21 carried by the bolts 17. The signs 5 are held by the bolts 17 intheir inoperative position against the tension of the springs 16, andwhen the bolts are retracted, the springs function to move the signsintoand support them in their operative position. i

A lever 22 is pivotally secured intermediate its ends, as at 23, to abracket 24 which is secured to the under side of one of the bridge beams2 at a point centrally between the ends of the bridge. The lever 22embodies a long arm 22" to which a float 25 is fixed, the float restingupon the body of water spanned by the bridge. The short arm 22 of thelever 2g is connected by cables 26 to the latch bolt 1 The cables 26 areconnected, as at 27, to the lever 22 and, as at 28, to the latch bolt17, and pass about direction pulleys 29 that are journaled in brackets30 secured to. opposite sides of the tie located immediately above thelever 22.

In practice, the signs 5 are, when the bridge is safe, held in loweredor inoperative position by the latch bolt 17. When the body of waterrises high enough to render the bridge unsafe, the consequent rocking ofthe lever 22 results in the retraction of the latch bolt 17 Theretraction of the latch bolt 17 releases the signs 5, and they areraised into operative position by the spring 16. The warning symbol orwork borne by-the signs 5 are only visible when .the signs are in raisedor operative position, and the signs are located far enough away fromthe ends of the bridge to enable an engineer, when the signs are inoperative position, to stophis train before reaching the bridge. Whenthe signs are in inoperative position, they are located below the treadsof the rails 4, and in view thereof, all danger of the signs beinginjured by the train is obviated. Each bracket 9 and its companion guide18 are preferably formed integrally so as to permit their readapplication to a tie.

W ile the signal is illustrated and described in connection with arailroad bridge, it is to be understood that it-may be used inconnection with highway bridges and for the purpose of indicating highwater levels generally.

\Vhile I have described the principle of the invention, to ether withthe structure which I now conslder the preferred embodiment thereof, itis to be understood that the structure shown is merely illustrative andthat such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope ofthe invention as claimed.

I claim 1. A signal of the character stated, comprising a pivoted signnormally occupying a lowered position, a latch bolt holding the sign insaid position, a spring maintaining the latch bolt in engagement withthe sign, a float controlled lever connected to the latch bolt andadapted when moved in one direction to retract the latch bolt, and meansadapted to raise and support the sign on the retraction of the latchbolt.

2. A signal of the character stated, comrising a sign provided at oneend with a 11g, means pivotally supporting the sign a nearsaid endthereof, thesign normally ocprising a sign, a bracketpivotallysupporting the sign, the sign normally occupying a lowered position, alatch bolt holding the sign in said position, the spring maintaining thelatch'bolt in engagement with the sign, afloat controlled leverconnectedto the latch bolt and adapted when moved in one direct-ion toretract the latch bolt, an arcuate ,guide carried by the bracket, anarcuate rod slidably mounted in the guide and piv oted to the sign, anda spring mounted on the rod between the guide and sign and adapted toraise and support the sign in sai'dposition on the retraction of thelatch bolt.

4:. A signal of the character stated, comprisinga bracket and a guidei'ormed integrally and right angularly related, a member pivoted betweenits ends to the bracket and provided at one end with a lug, a sign platesecured tothe other end of the member, a latchbolt slidably mounted inthe guide and engaging the lug to normally hold the sign plate inlowered position, a spring bearing against the guide and latch bolt tomaintain it inengagement with the lug, a float controlled leverconnected to the latch bolt and adapted when moved in one'direction toretract .the latch bolt, and a spring bearing against the member toraise the sign plate 1 on the retraction of the bolt.

5. A danger signal for a bridge, comprising signs, means pivotallysupporting the signs at distances from the ends of the bridge,

the signs normally occupying a lowered position, latch bolts engagingthe signs to hold them in said position, springs maintaining the latchbolts in engagement with the signs, a lever pivotally mounted betweenits ends at the under side of the bridge, a float secured to one end ofthe lever, cables secured tothe other end of the lever and to the latchbolts, and guides for the cables.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOSHUA J. MCCANDLESS.

